Airlines have used the advent of ADS-B tracking to create massive sky art seen by millions on Flightradar24. With Qantas saying goodbye to the Queen of the Skies with a 63,000 square kilometer kangaroo, we thought it time to revisit other sky art drawn with airliners.
An enormous “Roo”, July 2020
Qantas retired the last of its 747s this week and VH-OEJ flew a giant Roo after departing Sydney one last time.
Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag, April 2020
To celebrate Turkey’s Nation Sovereignty Day and Children’s Day, Turkish Airlines drew a Turkish Flag across central Turkey.
El Al’s 747 with a 747, November 2019
El Al retired its 747 fleet in 2019 and as a final tribute to the aircraft it drew a 747 over the Mediterranean Sea.
Airbus’ A38Tree, December 2017
Airbus got in the Christmas spirit and drew a tree during one its standard A380 test flights. Aircraft drawing Christmas trees has become a bit of a sport.
Boeing’s 787 with a 787, August 2017
While conducted an ETOPS test on the Rolls Royce Trent 1000 TEN engine, Boeing managed to draw a 787 with a 787.
MAX with MAX, February 2017
A Boeing 737 MAX decided to sign its name during an endurance test flight.
Love is in the air, April 2015
In April 2015, two Air Malta employees got married and the airline celebrated with a special flight. Other airlines including Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand, and Virgin Atlantic have all drawn their own hearts as well.
Who drew it best?
Which bit of sky art is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.
![An example full flight summary response from the Flightradar24 API: { "data": [ { "fr24_id": "0987654321", "flight": "SK1415", "callsign": "SAS1415", "operated_as": "SAS", "painted_as": "SAS", "type": "A20N", "reg": "SE-DOY", "orig_icao": "ESSA", "orig_iata": "ARN", "datetime_takeoff": "2023-01-27T05:15:22", "runway_takeoff": "12R", "dest_icao": "EKCH", "dest_iata": "CPH", "dest_icao_actual": "EPWA", "dest_iata_actual": "WAW", "datetime_landed": "2023-01-27T06:15:10", "runway_landed": "27L", "flight_time": 3600, "actual_distance": 1007.74, "circle_distance": 6245, "category": "Passenger", "hex": "4A91F9", "first_seen": "2023-01-27T05:06:22", "last_seen": "2023-01-27T06:18:10", "flight_ended": "true" } ] }](https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Flight-summary-API-cover-300x148.jpg)
91 Responses
Max of course
Turkish Flag of course.. worst one is MAX.. maximum risk..
Turkish Airlines’s is best
Qantas retired fight VH-OEJ and Boeing’s 787 drew perfect one
Turkish Airlines,Turkish flag
I have to go with the “Flying Roo”. Great memories on QF’s 747s!
Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag, April 2020
To celebrate Turkey’s Nation
Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag, April 2020
787 and ElAl 747. IMHO
Off course turkish flag is the best one because this was the largest flag in the world and it was drawn by the most handsome aircraft B777.
Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag is the best sky art 🇹🇷
Turkish Airlines is the best
Turkhis flag.
Totally think that the 787 drawn by the 787 was the best, because of its size, plus it’s level of detail. Got to give second place to Qantas though, pretty good detail and some pretty tight turns for a 747.
Hi;
I really liked the “B787 with B787” plane drawing and the heart shape “Love is in the air” But; My favorite shape is my flag drawn on my country.
THANK YOU.
Mustafa Yazıcı.
Love the Qantas tribute, sadly on its way to the boneyard….truly the end of a era.
Turkish flag is the best
Turkish Airlines, Turkish Flag is the best one!
Turkish
Turkish Airlines 😍
I choose Turkish Airlines , April 2020
Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag, April 2020 İs best of the best.
The Quantas Roo is definitely my favourite.
Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag for celebrating Turkey’s Nation Sovereignty Day and Children’s Day ❤️
Absolutely turkish flag,really awesome
I think Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag, April 2020
To celebrate Turkey’s Nation Sovereignty Day and Children’s Day, Turkish Airlines drew a Turkish Flag across central Turkey.
The flag of a nation TURKISH AIRLINES FLAG iş the bedt
Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag, April 2020
Turkish Airlines for sure
Of course Turkey❤️
1- Turkish Flag
2- Boeing 787
3-MAX
4-Roo
Qantas and Max 🙂
Turkish Airlines is best<3
The 787 looks very well defined because it is so large! The Qantas Roo is probably the saddest, to see the B747 go after 50 years.
Qantas giant roo is definitely the best one.
That roo is so smooth and nice, so for me, it’s a tie between the roo and the 787
787.
787 draws a 787. Just about perfect. Close runner-up, El Al’s 747
Both me and my son intently went through each one of them many times over. Each one of them is simply mesmerizing. My son loves the max … But my favourite one is the two hearts over Malta !
I love the 787 by the 787 because it was so huge and cool, but I love the roo because it was a retiring flight, and I love the tree and flag because that is celebrating what that country loves, so I just cannot choose between any of them
I like the kangaroo from Qantas as it is a good send off for the “Queen of the Skies” and is also symbolic to Australia.
I like the ‘Roo’ and the ‘A38Tree’ best. They are a sign of Planning, organizing, and then drawing it succesfull!
Qantas Kangaroo followed in a very close second place by the 787 with a 787.
Toss-up between Boeings’ 787 w/787 and the Boeing 737 Max.
Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag, April 2020
I think the Being 787 over the US is the best ‘airplane art’ picture! It covers a huge area, and is almost perfect in shape. The A38 tree is also quite good, and it looks like it took a lot of flying technique. Well done.
Turkish flag is the best
I think 787 with 787 was the best!
I believe the Qantas and El-Al are solid ties. Great detail from precision flying. Runner up the massive 787 over the U.S.
le kangourou
1. The Roo
2. El-Al Cyprus
3. A 38tree
Deffo, the 787 is best. I hope no Photoshopping went on though.
Definitely the Flying Kangaroo
Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag
OK I am biased, but the Flying Kangaroo has to take first place, especially when you consider some of those very sharp turns to get in the “tail end” and the nose. In fact it was necessary to climb and descend to make the turns. Oh yes the aircraft was also carrying 14+ hours fuel!
Qantas “ROO” is the best for me!
I like the 747 over contenental USA. It’s beautiful.
The giant Roo 👏🏻
Love the flying kangaroo
Most def “Boeing’s 787”!
the giant roo of course
There all very good, but being an Aussie i favour the Roo
The Flying Kangaroo by the Queen of the Skies B747
Methinks Qantas, then EL AL…
1. Qantas
2. The 787
Probably biased but the Flying Kangaroo is the best!
The flying Roo looks fantastic!
ELAL!
Qantas 747 “Roo”
Hi, As for me the Giant Flying Kangaroo Is the best. It’s because of the curves and shape is not that easy and they ( The Flight crew) have done their best.
The Air Malta one is a follow up of St Valentine’s 2014. Here is the link that includes the flightradar24.com screenshot:
https://www.airmalta.com/information/about/news-overview/news-detail/love-is-in-the-airplane-Captain-proposes-to-cabin-crew-with-heart-shaped-fly-path-on-Air-Malta-Love-Plane
All arts are well done. Salute to the pilots and respective airlines. Of all I like the USA art best as it is perfectly design flown and covers the US from the Canadian border to the Mexican border.
El Al 747
Wee bit biased, but the QF roo for me.
Qantas, what a fantastic tribute. The 747s have served the Aussie traveller well for so long. farewell old friend.
Roo
🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷 Turkish Airlines Turkish flag 🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷
The roo was the best. Sad to see the “queen” go.
787 with 787, by far.
A little biased I guess, but I have to go with the Flying Kangaroo. A special mention though for the 787 for its sheer size!
787 with a 787
Definitely Turkish Airlines’s
787
Lovely Qantas 747 of course!
787 Over US
All are amazing, so hard to choose. The 787 is enormous, and awesome. The Max is very cool too. Kudos to all the planning and execution on all of these!
Boeing’s 787 with a 787, August 2017
Et bien j’adore le 787 avec le 787 !!! Remarquez bien que tous les desseins sont vraiment exceptionnels !!! Bravo à tous ! 😉
787 ETOPS test was great. The A380 Christmas Tree was also pretty good.
Love is in the air, of course. How romantic. Small island, small airline, but big hearts!
Heart best